Chrysanthemum plant named `Chicago`

ABSTRACT

A Chrysanthemum plant named Chicago particularly characterized by its flat capitulum form; daisy capitulum type; red-purple ray floret color with a green disc and a distinct dark dot in the center of the disc; diameter across face of capitulum of 73 to 76 mm when fully opened; flowering response in Salinas under normal temperatures is 52 to 56 days after start of short days; plant height is 96 to 102 cm when grown in Salinas with 11 long days prior to start or short days; peduncle length of the first and the fourth laterals at flowering after removing the apical bud is 8 cm and 10 cm; production of 9 to 15 laterals, each producing one terminal flower; and uniform flowering in year round flowerings.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofchrysanthemum, botanically known as Dendranthema grandiflora, andreferred to by the cultivar name Chicago.

Chicago, identified as B327 (92-732001), was originated from a crossmade by Cornelis P. VandenBerg in a controlled breeding program inSalinas, Calif., in 1991.

The female parent of Chicago was an unnamed seedling, identified as 5418(84-106003) and described as a flat daisy cut mum with a red ray floretcolor. The female parent was discarded from all programs in October of1991.

The male parent of Chicago was an unnamed seedling, identified as 3910(85-642001) and described as flat daisy cut mum with a dark purple rayfloret color. The male parent was discarded from all programs in May of1991.

Chicago was discovered and selected as one flowering plant within theprogeny of the stated cross by Cornelis P. VandenBerg in January 1993,in a controlled environment in Salinas, Calif.

The first act of asexual reproduction of Chicago was accomplished whenvegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in March of1993 in a controlled environment in Salinas, Calif. by techniciansworking under supervision of Cornelis P. VandenBerg.

Horticultural examination of controlled flowerings of successiveplantings has shown that the unique combination of characteristics asherein disclosed for Chicago are firmly fixed and are retained throughsuccessive generations of asexual reproduction. Chicago has not beenobserved under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype mayvary significantly with variations in environment such as temperature,light intensity and daylength, without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plantsgrown in Salinas, Calif., under greenhouse conditions which approximatethose generally used in commercial greenhouse practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Chicago, which, in combination, distinguishthis Chrysanthemum as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Flat capitulum form.

2. Daisy capitulum type.

3. Red-purple ray floret color with a green disc and a distinct dark dotin the center of the disc.

4. Diameter across face of capitulum of 73 to 76 mm when fully opened.

5. Flowering response in Salinas under normal temperatures is 52 to 56days after start of short days.

6. Plant height is 96 to 102 cm when grown in Salinas with 11 long daysprior to start of short days.

7. Peduncle length of the first and the fourth laterals at floweringafter removing the apical bud is 8 cm and 10 cm.

8. Production of 9 to 15 laterals, each producing one terminal flower.

9. Uniform flowering in year round flowerings.

The accompanying photographic drawings show typical inflorescence andleaf characteristics of Chicago, with the colors being as nearly true aspossible with illustrations of this type.

Sheet 1 is a color photograph of Chicago grown as a single stem spraycut mum.

Sheet 2 is a black and white photograph of three views of theinflorescence of Chicago.

Sheet 3 is a black and white photograph showing the upper and undersides of the leaves of Chicago at 3 stages of development (mature,intermediate and immature).

In sheets 2 and 3 a measuring tape in centimeters has been added.

Of the commercial cultivars known to the inventor, the most similar incomparison to Chicago is the cultivar identified as Accent, disclosed inU.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,945. Reference is made to attached Chart A, whichcompares certain characteristics of Chicago with the samecharacteristics of Accent. Similar traits are ray floret color andcapitulum form and type. Chicago has a green disc with a distinct darkspot in the center of the disc, with no pollen development. Accent has ayellow-green disc, without a dark spot in the center of the disc, andscant to moderate pollen development. When compared with Accent, Chicagohas a smaller diameter of capitulum, a faster flowering response, ashorter peduncle length of the 4th lateral and a taller plant height,requiring less long days prior to start of short days to reachcommercial plant height.

In the following description color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart. The color values were determined onplant material grown as a single stem spray cut mum in Salinas, Calif.on Jul. 5, 1995.

Classification:

Botanical.--Dendranthema grandiflora cv. Chicago.

Commercial.--Flat daisy spray cut mum.

INFLORESCENCE

A. Capitulum:

Form.--Flat.

Type.--Daisy.

Diameter across face.--73 to 76 mm when fully opened.

B. Corolla of ray florets:

Color (general tonality from a distance of three meters).--Darkred-purple.

Color (upper surface).--74A.

Color (under surface).--74C.

Shape.--Straight, flat, rounded petal tip.

C. Corolla of disc florets:

Color (mature).--Closest to 154C.

Color (immature).--Closest to 144A. Center of disc closest to 178A to178C.

D. Reproductive organs:

Androecium.--Present on disc florets only; no pollen.

Gynoecium.--Present on both ray and disc florets.

PLANT

A. General appearance:

Height.--96 to 102 cm when grown in Salinas with 11 long days prior tostart of short days.

B. Foliage:

Color (upper surface).--147A.

Color (under surface).--147B.

Shape.--Deeply lobed, strongly serrated.

    ______________________________________                                        CHART A                                                                       CHARACTERISTIC CHICAGO      ACCENT                                            ______________________________________                                        Ray floret color                                                                             Dark red-purple                                                                            Dark red-purple                                   Capitulum form and type                                                                      Flat daisy   Flat daisy                                        Diameter across face                                                                         73 to 76 mm  79 to 89 mm                                       of capitulum                                                                  Flowering response                                                                           52 to 56 days                                                                              54 to 59 days                                     Peduncle length                                                               1st lateral    8 cm         5 to 10 cm                                        4th lateral    10 cm        13 to 20 cm                                       Plant height   96 to 102 cm 86 to 99 cm                                       COMPARISONS MADE OF PLANTS GROWN AS SINGLE                                    STEM SPRAY CUT MUMS IN SALINAS, CALIFORNIA                                    ______________________________________                                    

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant namedChicago, as described and illustrated.